Lady Grey

Chapter Eleven: The World Changes

"You can't just walk away from your duty! This is madness! Mutiny!"

"This conversation is also over, Tamaki," Kyouya stated over the phone. She was sitting in the backseat of the car, the driver glancing back as Tamaki's voice rang in gibberish at high volume from the phone. "You heard what Renge said, and I agree with her. I believe I'm entitled to take a little vacation from the Host Club."

"But she's absolutely insane!"

"I don't plan on being gone long, Tamaki." And Kyouya looked out of the window, watching the scenery pass by as the driver headed towards the Ootori Estate. "I've alerted the institute that hosts the club's accounts to not allow a total withdraw of five-hundred thousand yen until I've released the funds. Renge is the daughter of one of my family's clients. I need you to treat her nicely."

"I need you to come back!"

"It will only be for a week, Tamaki." And Kyouya could hear him seething over the phone. "Just try and have fun. I'm sure Renge will come up with plenty of exciting things for the club to do while I'm gone. And if she get out of hand, remember that you are the club president. You have the ultimate say in everything."

"Then as club President I order you to come back! Kyouya!"

"You should use your authority for better things," Kyouya replied, and the car pulled up to the walkway of the manor. "Such as making sure Renge doesn't find out that Haruhi is a girl."

There was silence on the other end.

"...Try not to call me if you need anything," Kyouya finished, and with that she hung up, just as Tamaki started panicking at the other end. The black-haired girl let out a heavy sigh, just as the driver opened the door for her. She stepped out, thanking the chauffeur as she headed inside.

It was her first day off. It was a little strange, coming home directly from school, but it was a nice change of pace. She had some free time for awhile, while Renge drove the club in whatever direction she wanted to take it. Kyouya had taken some extra precautions, of course... but she wasn't concerned that Renge would single-handedly destroy the club. Renge was rambunctious... not stupid.

Kyouya entered the house, closing the door after her. She removed her shoes, pushing them to the side with her toe and sliding on her slippers. She started through the house, heading towards her room. Her older brother, Yuuichi, halted.

"...Imoto?" The older brother paused, dressed down in a button up, grey sweatervest, and comfortable trousers. He looked down towards the watch on his wrist, then back up at her. "...You're home early. Doesn't your club usually run until the evening?"

"I'm taking a break," Kyouya stated, passing him up to head to the wing where her living space resided. "One of father's clients has a daughter who started attending my school. She's decided to take my place for awhile."

Yuuichi turned to watch her head off. He cleared his throat.

"How about you and I head out for a little, then?" He stated, and Kyouya paused, looking back to him. "It's been awhile, since you and I were able to talk."

We hardly talk. "...Did you have something in mind, oniisan?"

"Wherever you'd like to go is fine. We can have dinner," Yuuichi suggested. Kyouya stared at him with her ash-brown eyes for a moment... before nodding.

"All right." Kyouya turned away from him. "...I'll change and meet you at the door."

Yuuichi nodded. The young man headed off, to a different part of the house. Kyouya escaped to her room, tossing her satchel onto the couch of her living space. She headed up the small staircase to the loft portion, flopping down in bed with a sigh. So much for just relaxing at home. Perhaps she should have just said no. Some quiet reflection on recent events would have been nice.

She had already agreed, however. For some reason... Yuuichi's request seemed off. Though she had a feeling she knew what it was.

Kyouya hadn't spoken to either of her brothers, really, after the impossible request her father placed on her. Both her brothers had immediately risen to her defense. They all had left the country club in heavy silence, Kyouya disappearing to her room to think soon after. Her brothers, as Ootori's... must have been thinking, too. She was after all, in this place their little sister. Perhaps the thought of her getting married didn't sit well with them. After all, she knew for a fact that Akito wasn't seeing anyone, and if Yuuichi was, she hadn't heard anything about them yet. Yuuichi was already finished with his degree and working under her father. She was still in high school. Marriage...

...Marriage was...

Her thoughts were interrupted by a flashing image of he and Tamaki, wearing a black and white tuxedo at a wedding respectively, and her lips pulled into a grimace. It would never work. The thought of them merrily prancing down an aisle was something that would only occur if hell froze over.

The youngest Ootori sighed. She rose from the bed, changing out of her school uniform into something more comfortable.

...She had a dinner-date with her brother, after all.

Lady Grey

The next week went swimmingly for Kyouya. News of Renge running the club had reached her ears from various clients as well as the Host Club themselves. While Renge's management style was significantly more spontaneous, it was nothing Tamaki and the others couldn't handle. She decided to extend her vacation somewhat... but, Kyouya being Kyouya, couldn't help but want to keep an eye out on the club she and Tamaki had created.

The idea of a beach trip with the clients came to mind. The Ootori family had a private beachfront property. Kyouya stated the Host Club could stay the night there, and any guests who wanted to attend could stay in a hotel that wasn't too far away from the property. Renge was excited to go, though Kyouya couldn't remember if Renge had actually attended the trip or not the first time.

...The first time...

More and more, if he... she?... wasn't convinced already, was becoming certain she had been a boy in another life. Or this was the other life, and the boy one was real. The trip to the beach house was long, with Tamaki trying to talk to her about considering a return to her position sooner rather than later, screeching at the Hitachiin twins, and attempting to get on Haruhi's good graces. Kyouya kept herself buried into one of her black ledgers until they reached their destination.

After unpacking and dressing, everyone made their way to the beach. Tamaki assisted Kyouya with setting up her umbrella and towels. The blond took a step back, standing in his swimtruks. He beamed, looking proud of himself.

"That looks perfect!" He proclaimed, and the blond touched his chest, letting out a happy sigh. "It's Mommy and Daddy's little love nest! Perfect, under the nice warm sun~" Takami looked to Kyouya. "...And Kyouya...!"

The raven-haired woman was wearing a flattering, black, one-piece swimsuit. A white sunhat was on her head with a black ribbon around it, as well as a white wrap on her waist. Tamaki's grin only grew.

"You look lovely as always!" He chirped.

Kyouya rolled her eyes, turning away from him. "...Don't you have guests to entertain?"

"Ah! You're right!" Tamaki beamed at the back of her head, offering a wave as he headed off. "I'll see you soon then, Kyouya!" The Ootori could hear his footsteps as he headed off, and good riddance.

...She couldn't hide the blush that had crept onto her face at the compliment.

This is ridiculous. Kyouya took a seat on the towel, glancing out to the crowd having fun on the beach, before pulling out a book. ...Father's insistence on marrying Tamaki is making me self-conscious. If anything... She needed to figure out what purpose she had in this world. If her real life was of that of a boy... she would need to figure out a way to return to that world. What if this was some kind of strange hallucination she was having as she lay dying? Or, if that was some kind of frightening, recurring dream, and she had always been a girl...

...She had a whole new set of problems on her plate.

At the moment, Kyouya had no leads. There was nothing she could really do. The flavor of tea, Lady Grey, seemed to have some sort of significance... but she didn't really understand how or what it was. Maybe she needed to think back on things more.

When she fell... when he fell... what did he... or... what had he...

It had been two years, nearly. Falling down the stairs. He had fallen down the stairs, holding a box of Lady Grey. Maybe the scent was triggering the memory? Maybe that's why the smell of the tea was starting to bother her. It was a herald to the unknown.

At the moment, though... it wasn't as if she could return at her will, or else she was certain she would have done it long before. Maybe she was supposed to accomplish something in this world in order to return.

When did I become some sort of Chosen One? Kyouya thought. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, that she hadn't realized one of the twins was standing before her.

"...uya. Kyouya."

Milk-tea eyes shot up from the book she was holding. In front of her, one of the twins... Kaoru, yes, was standing in front of her. Kyouya adjusted her glasses, pushing them back up the bridge of her nose with a single finger. "Yes, Kaoru?"

He blinked, looking a little surprised that she had picked out who he was, but otherwise nodded. "Yeah. Uh... you looked like you were a little lost in la-la-land, there."

"Just thinking." Always thinking. Kyouya glanced around, but Hikaru was nowhere to be found. She looked back up to him. "Did you need something?"

"Uh... yeah, actually." Kaoru reached to the back of his head, scratching there for a moment. "...Actually, do you think we could... take a walk together?"

Kyouya looked at him; perhaps he wanted to speak in private. She nodded, setting her book down to the side. "All right."

"Cool." Kaoru held out his hand. Kyouya glanced at it, but slowly took it. Kaoru hoisted her up to her feet. The two started walking off to one side of the beach, Kaoru walking with one of his hands in the pockets of his swim-trunks. Slowly, the noise of the Host Club and all of their guests began to fade away, replaced by the gentle churning of the ocean. Kyouya looked out towards the water in thought. He... she, hadn't quite shaken her thoughts from earlier.

What could she do?

"...The ocean is pretty nice, huh?" Kaoru finally spoke up after awhile. Kyouya turned to look at him, waiting patiently as the younger Hitachiin continued, "You picked a good time to come out here."

"I had a suspicion that the weather would be fair." Kyouya reached up, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. "Besides, Tamaki wouldn't have it otherwise."

"The Boss..." Kaoru let out slowly. He glimpsed to Kyouya. "Yeah, I guess not. He seems to be enjoying himself well enough. You know...

"...With Haruhi..."

Kyouya's face remained neutral. Was Kaoru attempting to instigate something? The Hitachiin twins were difficult to read at times... and they always had their own agenda. "Haruhi has a naturally calming aura about her. Perhaps it's good that Tamaki spends some more time around her... though I can't say the same in reverse."

Kaoru let out a snicker, but didn't comment on it further. The two continued moving through the sand, but after a bit, they paused to have a seat on some rocks around the cove. Kyouya looked out to the ocean again, short hair fluttering around her cheeks. Kaoru seemed to busy himself with tossing small pebbles towards the water, the two watching as they skipped along the surface.

"Hey, Kyouya."

The black-haired girl glanced over to Kaoru. The twin was staring towards the ocean, hair ruffling around in the gentle seabreeze. Kyouya remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"I was wondering... I kind of..." the redhead trailed off, frowning a bit, as if deciding whether or not to continue. He seemed to want to, but started with different words instead, rethinking his approach. "If you're not busy when we get back from our trip, if you'd go-"

There was a noise from over their heads. Kaoru's words fizzled out, Kyouya looking away from him and up towards the clifftops of the beach. There, he saw a few of the girls from their club, and three unknown men. She frowned, standing to her feet.

"H-hey..." Kaoru let out as she started walking off. "Hey! Where are you going? Kyouya!"

Kyouya was quick to make her way around the rocks and up the cliffside. There, the girls from the club were having a verbal altercation with the boys who stood before them. She could hear their pleas as the boys continued to harass them.

"This is a private beach!" One girl stated firmly. One of the guys grinned.

"Oh, so that means we're all alone?" He let out, and the girls huddled together. Kyouya walked up behind them.

"Excuse me."

The three young men looked back. Their eyes landed on the gorgeous Kyouya, who was eyeing them from under the wide brim of her sunhat. They all seemed to grow excited at her appearance.

"Heeeeey~" The guy that seemed to be the leader replied, sliding over to her. "So you've come to hang out with us to? Are these girls your friends? They're cute!"

"They're my clients," Kyouya replied, tone cold. It seemed to sober the guy up, and he looked her over as she replied, "This beach is my family's private property. I suggest you escort yourselves out before I have the authorities do so."

"Whoa now!" The guy exclaimed, holding up his hand. "We come to this beach all the time! This is the first time we've seen you here!"

"I'm afraid it will make little difference in the eyes of the police," Kyouya replied. She crossed her arms. "Leave. Immediately."

"Frigid bitch," The guy muttered under his breath. He moved past Kyouya, the other two guys following. The black-haired woman looked after them, just as the host club clients ran over to her, squealing.

"That was amazing, Ootori-chan!" They exclaimed, and Kyouya looked to the girls ho were gathered around her, in various states of awe. "You really showed them! You're so tough and cool!"

Kyouya merely shook her head. Kaoru was heading over to her, panting.

"Kyouya! You just ran off!" He proclaimed... only to see the other girls surrounding his friend. Kaoru's eyes swept over them confused. "Er... is something going on?"

"We had a little bit of trouble with the locals," Kyouya replied, turning to face Kaoru. "...It's fine. I handled it perfectly on my own."

On her own. For some reason... this didn't seem right. Had the situation happened before? Hadn't it turned out...

...Differently?

Above their heads, the sky began to darken. While the sunset was coming in, so were several billowing clouds. The small group looked upwards, towards the sky.

"Looks like rain," Kaoru spoke. Kyouya's brows furrowed.

Rain...

"Indeed." Kyouya looked tot he other girls. "Ladies, we should all be heading back to the rest of the group. We'll be checking everyone in to the hotel room down the way." Of course, the Host Club would be staying at Kyouya's vacation home, but they couldn't fit all of their guests in the manor.

The girls agreed. They started down the cliffside first, leaving Kaoru and Kyouya to follow along behind them. Kaoru was quiet the rest of the way back to the beach where their belongings had been.

Tamaki was the first to greet them.

"Where have you been?!" The blond shouted at them. His head spun to Kaoru. "What do you think you're doing, running off with my Kyouya?!"

"None of your business," Kaoru replied in a bratty tone. He put his hands on his hips, looking away. Tamaki swerved his head over to Kyouya to explanation.

"Did you say 'my' Kyouya?" The ash-brown-eyed woman inquired, lifting a brow at him. "I didn't realize you owned me."

"That's not what I-!"

"Lets go, Kaoru," Kyouya said over Tamaki, walking past him and back over to where her towel and umbrella had been. Kaoru ignored Tamaki as he followed her, the redhead helping Kyouya with her things as she started to pick up around the area.

Still...

Kyouya couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

She did her best to ignore it, but...

Such a thing was impossible.

Lady Grey

The Host Club had dinner at the manor, the sky growing dark as night came... along with a heavy sum of dark clouds.

Haruhi had appeared in a cute pink dress to dinner, to which Tamaki rose with excitement to allow his daughter to site beside him on the left. Kyouya was to his right, changed out of her swimsuit and into some comfortable lounge-about clothes: a black tracksuit with a dark-blue tank underneath. In relation to Haruhi's dress... it was nothing special.

Of course, Haruhi was trotting about in men's attire all day. It was interesting, at least to the rest of the Host Club, that she was in a dress. Kyouya had forgotten how much Haruhi's genderfluidity was a damn commodity. They were lucky that Renge had opted to stay at the hotel: or rather, Kyouya practically commanded her to, in order to give Haruhi at least a moment's reprieve from having to pretend to be a boy. Kyouya ate her dinner in silence.

Haruhi excused herself from the table, asking if Kyouya would show her to where she was staying. Kyouya rose, following Haruhi down the dark halls of the manor. Haruhi looked over to the taller girl.

"...Kyouya-senpai?"

Kyouya glanced over to Haruhi. "...What is it?"

"I wanted to ask you something... if that's all right."

That could Haruhi possibly have to ask her? Kyouya paused in the hallway, looking towards Haruhi from behind silver-rimmed glasses. Haruhi looked back at the other girl, their eyes locked on one another.

"...Do you..." Haruhi began. Kyouya felt herself tensing... but she didn't know why.

"Do you... hate m-"

CRASH! The whole hallway lit up as thunder boomed in the sky. Haruhi seemed to jump out of her skin, looking around wildly as she let out a low whimper. Kyouya had been a bit surprised too, by the loud crash, but then it occurred to her... something she remembered.

Haruhi was scared if thunder.

"Eeee!" Haruhi let out as thunder rolled again. She hugged herself tightly. Kyouya watched her in silence for a moment, Haruhi looking over to her. "Hahaha... heheh... um, l-lets get going again! I really want to be able to g-get to my ro-"

"You're scared of thunder," Kyouya spoke plainly, and Haruhi looked over to the other girl. Kyouya's expression was still, gazing towards the brunette as if she were a bug under a microscope. "I suppose you're used to toughing things out on your own, since your father isn't around much."

Haruhi opened her mouth to say something... but Kyouya cut her off.

"Fine." Kyouya continued walking down the hall. "You can stay in my room tonight."

Haruhi didn't say anything. She hurried after Kyouya, moving in close to the other girl. Kyouya led Haruhi to her room... but as she did, and the two slept in the same bed together... Kyouya couldn't help but think about what Haruhi had been about to say over and over again.

'Do you hate me?'

Why should I? Kyouya had more important things to think about... such as finding a way to break free of whatever spell she was under. She needed to find out the truth of who she was, whether being a boy or a girl was her destiny, of how to get her father off her case about Tamaki, why everyone was acting so odd around her...

Kyouya's expression hardened. Her eyes glanced down at Haruhi, who was sleeping beside her.

'Do you hate me?'

No. Kyouya never recalled a time when she, he?, hated Haruhi. She was jut a member of the Host Club, paying off her debt, getting into hijinks... taking more and more of Tamaki's time away from his best friend...

She recalled something: Tamaki was supposed to have been with her this night. Kyouya wasn't sure what happened, but there had been a moment between Tamaki and Haruhi that had been missed. In fact... it was the same for today. Tamaki was supposed to have saved Haruhi from drowning. That didn't happen either. Kyouya had taken care of the problem herself, without any intervention.

Those were moments that she had taken away... moments that could no longer shape the relationship between Tamaki and Haruhi. That...

...Made him happy.

Kyouya felt sick. The young woman closed her eyes tight, ignoring the pain in her stomach and chest. For some reason...

...She felt as if she could use a cup of Lady Grey right now.

Hello everyone!

As you might have noticed, it had been a long time since this update. I had this chapter ready, however a lot of things happened. I would up in the hospital for a bit and was recovering for several months. I received some nice reviews in between then, but also some rather cruel ones (and PMs) in responses to not updating... hey! Remember, I'm writing this for fun (and free)!

Anyway, I'm back! Hopefully you will see another update sooner rather than later. I'm still recovering, but I felt well enough to update so that we can continue on with the story. I hope you'll leave a review to cheer me on!

Regards!